Crown-support carrier

ABSTRACT

An improved multiple-article carrier of the crown-support variety comprising a bottom panel, side wall panels, crown cover panels, elevation panels, a securing panel and a top panel. The elevation panels are disposed along the inner edges of the article crowns and lie in a plane substantially parallel with the planes of the side wall panels and are provided with means for locking under the crowns of the articles in the carrier. The top panel also locks to one of the elevation panels and both elevation panels lock to the bottom panel thereby providing a tightly locked multiple article carrier.

Unite States Patent Graser 51 Oct. 17, 1972 CROWN-SUPPORT CARRIER 72 I t E I Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer nven or at J Graser, Monroe, La Atmmey N' E. Von Behren [73] Assignee: Olinkraft, Inc. 22 Filed: Aug. 23, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 174,074

An improved multiple-article carrier of the crown-support variety comprising a bottom panel, side wall panels, crown cover panels, elevation panels, a securing panel and a top panel. The elevation panels are disposed along the inner edges of the article crowns and lie in a plane substantially parallel with the planes of the side wall panels and are provided with means for locking under the crowns of the articles in the carrier. The top panel also locks to one of the elevation panels and both elevation panels lock to the bottom panel thereby providing a tightly locked multiple article carrier.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDummmz 3.698.550

SHEET10F3 29 33 INVENTOR 7 FIG. I EARL J. GRASER ATTORN EY PATENTEDum 11 I972 sum 2 or a FIG.

INVENTOR EARL J. GRASER BY WM 5 UMBJ ATTORNEY PATENTEDum n 1912 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIG.3

FIG.5

INVIENTOR BY EARL J. GRASER ATTORNEY CROWN-SUPPORT CARRIER CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved multiple-article carrier. More particularly, this invention relates to a multiple-article carrier which may be formed from a single blank of sheet material and has unique locking features for tightly locking the various parts of the carrier in a tight package. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a multiple-article carrier of the crown-support variety.

Crown-support carriers, of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,156,358 which was granted Nov. 10, 1964 to B. F. Randrup are known in the prior art. These prior art carriers have not, however, been widely accepted in the industry, principally, because they are not sufficiently rigid for use with the several article sizes presently on the market and because they do not afford maximum protection to the articles without the use of additional protective devices such as the net-like sleeves disclosed in the above cited patent. In this regard, it should be noted that articles carried in the prior art crown-support type carriers are subjected to rotation in a lateral plane which causes contact at or near the bottoms thereof. Moreover, the prior art carriers have employed a single-ply handle which is inherently weak and does not tightly lock the various parts together, as is readily apparent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved multiple-article carrier of the crownsupport type. Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier which can be prepared from a single blank of sheet material. Still another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier which will lend itself to high-speed packaging operations. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier of the crown-support type having improved strength, rigidity and locking characteristics. A still further object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier of the crown-support type having a handle section of increased strength and locking characteristics. These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description hereinafter set forth and the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing, and other objects, are accomplished with a carrier which may be erected from a single sheet of blank material and comprising (1) a bottom panel having means associated therewith for securing said carrier to the carried articles, and (2) crown-cover panels, which cover, completely, the article caps or closures and (3) elevation panels which contain means for tightly locking the various panels to each other and to the bottles transported in the carrier. In erecting the carrier, it is most convenient, to first position the bottom panel below the crowns and then fold the crown-cover panels into position and secure the carrier in the erected condition. As will be apparent from the discussion hereinafter, the carrier also comprises side panels, means for tightly securing said carrier in an erected condition and improved means for carrying said carrier in said erected condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a unitary blank cut and scored in a manner necessary to the formation of a carrier as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical package embracing the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial end view showing the initial steps required in the assembly of the package as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is also a partial end view showing the position of the top panels with one step remaining to complete the erection thereof as shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial end view of the package shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a unitary sheet of blank material which is cut and scored so as to define the bounds of the various panels and other elements on a carrier within the scope of the present invention. The blank may be prepared from paper, paperboard, polymeric materials, etc. The blank comprises a bottom panel, 1, which is pivotally connected to side wall panels, 2 and 3, respectively, along scored fold lines, 4 and 5. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the side panels are disposed at the lateral edges of the bottom panel. The side panels, 2 and 3, are also pivotally connected, along longitudinally extending scored fold lines, 6 and 7, to crown-cover panels, 8 and 9. The crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, are in turn, pivotally connected, along longitudinally extending scored fold lines, 10 and 11, respectively, to elevation panels, 12 and 13. Elevation panel, 12, is pivotally connected to securing panel, 14, along longitudinally extending scored fold line, 15-15, and is partially separated therefrom by cut lines, 16-16 which form the bottom panel locking tabs 17. On the other hand, elevation panel, 13, is pivotally connected to top panel, 18, along longitudinally extending scored fold line, 19-19, and as partially separated therefrom along cut lines, 20- 20, which form the bottom locking tabs 17'.

The bottom panel, 1, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises apertures 21-21 and 22-22, which apertures define the inner boundaries of a series of small, adjacent panels, 23-23 and 24-24, respectively. The small, adjacent panels, 23-23 and 24-24, are further defined, respectively, by starburst cuts, 25-25 and 26-26, and scored fold lines, 27-27 and 28-28, which, respectively, define the outer boundaries of panels, 23-23 and 24-24. For convenience, the combination of cut and scored lines which define apertures, 21-21 and 22-22, and adjacent panels 23-23 and 24-24, will be referred to, herein, as starburst apertures. It will be appreciated, that although the starburst apertures, as illustrated, are surrounded by six adjacent panels, the term as defined is intended to include any number of panels which may or may not be of uniform size. For example, the number of panels could easily be reduced to four or increased to twelve. Moreover, the term as herein defined is intended to include arrangements wherein the various panels are not adjacent in the blank layout. Each starburst aperture has an inner panel 23 or 24 removed as shown by the void 23' or 24' for reasons which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The bottom panel, 1, as shown in FIG. 1, also comprises apertures, 29-29. Moreover, the bottom panel, 1, is cut so as to define tab receiving recesses 31-31 and 32-32. As can be seen in FIGS. 3-5, tab recesses, 31-31 and 32-32, lie in a straight line and afford means for securing crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, in position after a carrier is erected from said blank.

As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the terminal edge, 33-33, of securing panel, 14, is recessed so as to define aperture overlays, 29-29'. As is readily apparent, it is necessary to recess the terminal edge of the securing panel to avoid interference with the function of apertures, 29-29, when the carrier is erected. As has already been noted, the inner edge of securing panel, 14, is defined in part, by scored fold line, 15- 15, and in part by cut lines, 16-16 and 17-17. As can be seen in FIG. 1, cut lines, 16-16, define the boundaries of locking tabs, 17-17, which locking tabs cooperate with tab receiving recesses 31-31, to secure crown-cover panel, 8, in place when the carrier is erected. It will be appreciated, that when securing panel, 14, is pivoted about longitudinal scored fold line, 15-15, tabs 17-17, will also rotate about said scored fold line thereby providing corresponding recesses in elevation panel, 12. The elevation panels 12 and 13 contain a plurality of crown locking tabs 35 and 35 which are formed in the elevation panels at a predetermined distance remote from the scoreline 15-15 and 19-19 so that when the elevation panels 12 and 13 revolve the crown locking tabs 35-35 and 35'-35 will break away from the elevation panels a predetermined amount. This feature allows the tabs to be easily locked under the crowns of the objects held in the carrier as will be more fully described hereinafter. The tabs 35 and 35 may be formed in the configurations shown in FIG. 1 or in other configurations within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The outer edge, 39-39, of top panel, 18, is cut so as to define projection tabs, 40-40. These projection tabs cooperate to secure elevation panels, 12 and 13, against lateral movement when a carrier is erected from the blank shown in FIG. 1. The outer edge 39-39 of top panel 18 is recessed so as to define aperture overlays 36, as is readily apparent, it is necessary to recess the edge 39-39 of top panel 18 to avoid interference with the function of the apertures 29-29, when the carrier is erected.

In order to better understand the present invention, reference is now made to FIG. 2-5, which is a perspective view of a package embracing said invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom panel, 1, is positioned below the crowns, 41-41 and 42-42 (this position is clearly shown in FIG. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the bottom panel, 1, is positioned a distance sufficiently below said crowns so as to enable the inner edges of the adjacent panels, 23-23 and 24-24, which are defined by starburst cuts, to engage under said crowns. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the side panels, 2 and 3, extend upwardly from the bottom panel, 1, and are substantially perpendicular thereto when the carrier is fully erected. The crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, extend inwardly from the tops of side panels, 2 and 3, respectively, and lie in a plane substantially parallel with that formed by the base panel, 1. The elevation panels, 12 and 13, extend downwardly from crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, respectively, and are secured in a position substantially parallel with side panels, 2 and 3. As can also be seen in FIG. 2, top panel, 18, extends from the bottom of elevation panel, 13, across the entire handle section of the carrier such that the projections, 40-40, extend through apertures in elevation panel, 12, upwardly and contact the crown of the bottle. Although not shown, it should be noted, at this point that the width of top panel, 18; that is, the length thereof from the bottom of elevation panel, 13, to the terminal end of said panel, will be sufficient so as to provide a force which has a tendency to move the bottom of elevation panel, 13, toward side wall panel, 3, and the bottom of elevation panel, 12, toward side wall panel, 2. This force is counteracted by a force exerted by the bottom panel locking tabs 17- 17 and 17'-17 against tab receiving recesses 31-31 and 32-32 respectively. It will be appreciated, that these forces cooperate to prevent lateral motion of the elevation panels, 12 and 13, and thereby afford lateral rigidity to the package.

To further illustrate the present invention, reference is now made to FIGS. 3-5, which show partial end views of a package prepared with the carrier of the present invention at various stages of erection of the article carrier. FIG. 3 shows the position of bottom panel, 1, after said panel has been forced over the crowns, 41 and 42, with said crowns protruding through apertures, 21 and 22 (not shown). As can be seen in the Figure, the adjacent panels, 23-23 and 24-24, pivot about scored lines, 27-27 and 28-28 (not shown) and extend upwardly from bottom panel, 1, with their inner edges locking beneath the respective crowns. As can also be seen, these panels tend to separate along the starburst cuts when the apertures, 21 and 22, are expanded by forcing the said crowns through said apertures. It will be appreciated that the extent of separation will be dependent upon the size of the article which is packaged. It will also be appreciated that the strength of the lock created by the panels, 23-23 and 24-24, will be dependent upon the force exerted by said panels in opposition to the aforementioned separation. As will be apparent, this force will be dependent upon the size of the apertures, 21-21 and 22-22, the size of the article to be packaged, and the strength of the material used in preparing the blank. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, when the bottom panel, 1, is in position, the side panels, 2 and 3, can be pivoted about longitudinally extending fold lines, 4 and 5, and extended upwardly from said bottom panel. At the same time, crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, may be rotated about scored fold lines, 6 and 7, and extended inwardly to cover crowns, 41-41 and 42-42. Prior to bringing crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, into their erected position, it is most convenient to rotate elevation panels, 12 and 13, about scored fold lines, 10 and 11, respectively, and to rotate securing panel, 14, and top panel, 18, about scored fold lines, 15-15 and 19-19. When this is done crown locking tabs 35-35 and 35-35 are broken away a small-amount allowing them to be positioned under the crowns 42 and 41 and within the voids 23 or 24' to aid in securely locking the crowns 41-41 and 42-42 in the starburst apertures and also giving the crown carrier more dimensional stability.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, as the crown cover panel 8 is positioned over the crown of the bottle, the bottom panel locking tabs 17-17 are positioned under the tab receiving recess 31-31 while the crown locking tabs 35-35 are positioned under the crown as before mentioned thereby locking the securing panel 14 to the bottom panel. Shortly thereafter the top panel 18 is positioned over the locked security panel 14 and its bottom panel locking tabs l7'-17 are positioned under its tab receiving recess 32-32. In the same sequence, the crown locking tabs 35-35 are positioned under the crowns of the bottles on its side of the carrier.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawing, the final positioning and locking of the parts is carried out when the projection tabs 40 are positioned in the void formed by the crown locking tabs 35 and are also locked under the crowns of the bottles thereby tightly locking the package in all directions.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the heights of side wall panels, 2 and 3, and elevation panels, 12 and 13, are adjusted such that crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, will lie in a plane substantially parallel with bottom panel, 1, and adjacent with the tops of crowns, 41-41 and 42- 42. As can also be seen in FIG. 5, the width of top panel, 18, is adjusted such that elevation panels, 12 and 13, extend through planes substantially perpendicular to bottom panel, 1, and are secured therein by the forces exerted near the bottoms thereof by top panel, 18, and the bottom panel locking tabs 17-17 and l771.

In general, the multiple-article carrier of the present invention may be used to package any number of articles. It will be appreciated, however, that for practical reasons, the carrier of the present invention will be most suited for the packaging of from two to about 12 articles. Moreover, it should be noted that although the carrier of the present invention has been illustrated by reference to a carrier designed for packaging six articles in a two by three arrangement, the carrier of the present invention could, through only slight modification, be made suitable for use with a single row of articles or with more than two rows of articles. For example, it is contemplated that the carrier, as illustrated, could be easily modified to facilitate packaging of twelve articles in a four by three arrangement.

Further, the carrier of the present invention may be used to package any article having a crown or other projection which extends outwardly from the article a sufficient distance to enable the panels to be secured in the manner herein described. In this regard, it should be noted that the carrier of the present invention could be used to package any articles having a protrusion in the upper portion thereof, e.g., a neck flange, which extends outwardly from said article a sufficient distance to permit the various panels to be locked in a manner herein described. Moreover, it should be noted that the bottom panel of the carrier of the present invention could be positioned prior to placing the crown on said bottles. Further, it should be noted that substantially any method, known in the prior art, could be used to lock the carrier in an erected position. In this regard, it should be noted that the method of locking, as herein described and illustrated, is, however, particularly preferred.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blank, as shown in FIG. 1, is cut from paperboard. The carrier is used to package six or eight containers such as those described in US. Pat. No. 3,372,826, which issued to Richard A. Heaton on Mar. 12, 1966, which containers comprise an upper portion of glass and a lower portion of a less frangible material, such as low or medium molecular weight polyethylene. Packaging in a two by three or two by four arrangement is preferred and packaging in a two by three arrangement is particularly preferred. Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier will comprise locking tabs such as those illustrated in FIGS. l-5 and designated, 17-17, l7'-17' and 40-40.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated by reference to particular embodiments, it will be readily apparent that the present invention lends itself to various modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, reference should be made solely to the appended claims to determine the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a crown support carrier for a plurality of objects of the type having a bottom panel, a pair of side panels hingedly attached to the bottom panel, a pair of crown cover panels hingedly attached to the side panels, a pair of elevation panels hingedly attached to the crown cover panels, a securing panel hingedly attached to one of the elevation panels for locking engagement with the bottom panel, and a top panel hingedly attached to the other elevation panel for locking engagement with the bottom panel, the improvement comprising:

a. the elevation panels having formed along a greater portion thereof a plurality of crown locking tabs for locking engagement with the crowns of the objects being transported in the carrier;

b. the top and securing panels having formed along the ends thereof a plurality of bottom panel locking tabs for locking engagement with the bottom panel;

0. the bottom panel having formed on the ends thereof tab receiving recesses for receiving said bottom panel locking tabs in locking engagement with the bottom panel; and

d. the bottom panel having formed therein a plurality of starburst apertures for receiving the necks of each object being held in the carrier, each said starburst aperture having a void on the inner portion thereof, each of said voids receiving one of the crown locking tabs and allowing said tabs to be locked under the crown of the objects in the carri- 2. In the crown support carrier as defined in claim I, the further improvement comprising the top panel hav ing formed therein a plurality of projection tabs for projecting into the space formed by the crown locking tabs on the elevation panel which is hingedly attached to the securing panel, said projection tabs also serving to aid in locking the top panel to the securing panel.

3. In the crown carrier as defined in claim 2, the improvement further comprising the top panel having formed thereon at least three projection tabs.

4. 1n the crown carrier as defined in claim 1, the improvement further comprising the elevation panels being hingedly attached to their respective top panel or securing panel by a scoreline and said crown locking tabs are formed in the elevation panel at a predetermined distance remote from the scoreline so that said crown locking tabs break away from the elevation panel a predetermined amount thereby allowing them to be easily locked under the crowns of the objects being held in the carrier whenever the carrier is formed in a carrier forming machine.

5. A package comprising a multiple article carrier in combination with at least two articles, said carrier comprising a bottom panel having formed therein means for supporting the articles, side panels disposed along the lateral edges of said bottom panel and hingedly fastened thereto upwardly, crown-cover panels hingedly connected to each of said side panels and covering the crowns of the articles, elevation panels hingedly attached to the crown cover panels and extending downwardly, said elevation panels having formed thereon means for supporting the articles, a securing panel hingedly attached to one of said elevation panels, said securing panel having means for locking it to the bottom panel, and a top panel hingedly attached to the other elevation panel, said top panel having means for locking it to the securing panel, the bottom panel and one of the elevation panels thereby forming a tightly locked multiple article carrier.

6. The package as defined in claim 5 wherein said means formed on the elevation panels for supporting the articles comprises a plurality of crown locking tabs and said means, formed on the bottom panel, for supporting the articles comprises a starburst aperture, each aperture being formed with at least a void therein for receiving said crown locking tabs. 

1. In a crown support carrier for a plurality of objects of the type having a bottom panel, a pair of side panels hingedly attached to the bottom panel, a pair of crown cover panels hingedly attached to the side panels, a pair of elevation panels hingedly attached to the crown cover panels, a securing panel hingedly attached to one of the elevation panels for locking engagement with the bottom panel, and a top panel hingedly attached to the other elevation panel for locking engagement with the bottom panel, the improvement comprisinG: a. the elevation panels having formed along a greater portion thereof a plurality of crown locking tabs for locking engagement with the crowns of the objects being transported in the carrier; b. the top and securing panels having formed along the ends thereof a plurality of bottom panel locking tabs for locking engagement with the bottom panel; c. the bottom panel having formed on the ends thereof tab receiving recesses for receiving said bottom panel locking tabs in locking engagement with the bottom panel; and d. the bottom panel having formed therein a plurality of starburst apertures for receiving the necks of each object being held in the carrier, each said starburst aperture having a void on the inner portion thereof, each of said voids receiving one of the crown locking tabs and allowing said tabs to be locked under the crown of the objects in the carrier.
 2. In the crown support carrier as defined in claim 1, the further improvement comprising the top panel having formed therein a plurality of projection tabs for projecting into the space formed by the crown locking tabs on the elevation panel which is hingedly attached to the securing panel, said projection tabs also serving to aid in locking the top panel to the securing panel.
 3. In the crown carrier as defined in claim 2, the improvement further comprising the top panel having formed thereon at least three projection tabs.
 4. In the crown carrier as defined in claim 1, the improvement further comprising the elevation panels being hingedly attached to their respective top panel or securing panel by a scoreline and said crown locking tabs are formed in the elevation panel at a predetermined distance remote from the scoreline so that said crown locking tabs break away from the elevation panel a predetermined amount thereby allowing them to be easily locked under the crowns of the objects being held in the carrier whenever the carrier is formed in a carrier forming machine.
 5. A package comprising a multiple article carrier in combination with at least two articles, said carrier comprising a bottom panel having formed therein means for supporting the articles, side panels disposed along the lateral edges of said bottom panel and hingedly fastened thereto upwardly, crown-cover panels hingedly connected to each of said side panels and covering the crowns of the articles, elevation panels hingedly attached to the crown cover panels and extending downwardly, said elevation panels having formed thereon means for supporting the articles, a securing panel hingedly attached to one of said elevation panels, said securing panel having means for locking it to the bottom panel, and a top panel hingedly attached to the other elevation panel, said top panel having means for locking it to the securing panel, the bottom panel and one of the elevation panels thereby forming a tightly locked multiple article carrier.
 6. The package as defined in claim 5 wherein said means formed on the elevation panels for supporting the articles comprises a plurality of crown locking tabs and said means, formed on the bottom panel, for supporting the articles comprises a starburst aperture, each aperture being formed with at least a void therein for receiving said crown locking tabs. 